Apparatus for fabricating a structural frame in horizontal position

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a nailing machine carriage assembly guidably supported on a vertical track attached to and running the length of a framing table used for making wall frames and the like. The carriage comprises a carriage base, which may form a tray, and a nailer support plate positioned above and supported by the carriage base, means for altering the vertical placement of an automatic nailing device pivotably positioned on the nailer support plate, and a plurality of rollers preferably grooved, rotatably attached to the carriage base and designed to contact the vertical track running the length of the framing table. The carriage is in cantilevered relationship with the track and further includes stabilizing means, e.g., rollers positioned on opposite sides of the track, to effect a torque counter to the torque normally present. This carriage and track system has a particular advantage in that because of the vertical track construction workers are able to get closer to the working surface of the framing table than they can with conventional horizontal track systems.

[ June 28, 1974 United States Patent [191 Stanley [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a nailing machine carriage assembly guidably supported on a vertical track at APPARATUS FOR F ABRICATING A STRUCTURAL FRAME IN HORIZONTAL POSITION [75] Inventor:

James M. Stanley Vicksburg Miss tached to and running the length of a framing table used for making wall frames and the like. The carriage Assignee: Multi-Systems, Inc., Vicksburg,

comprises a carriage base, which may form a tray, and a nailer support plate positioned above and su by the carriage base, means for placement of an automatic naili positioned on the nailer support d m ye dL-a 6 uuh n5 I w lt. t a pC Or rO k e peou CSMH P .w d ar re 31 e C CO cda nfg wnu t neaa d y toe e e] e ab W n mrm P5 of rollers preferably grooved, rot

carriage base and designed to contact the vertical track running the length of the framing table. The carriage is in cantilevered relationshi further includes stabilizing mean tioned on opposite sides of the track 222 505 1/1 W ZWW 21 .0 1H0 1 l 7 a 2 9 2 9 m2 e 2 .n 2 N W mm m 5 n v m .mr m s U" E .m c 7 Tm 6 l n Mm. m m R MAM C C d 'm d m P mm F A UIF 1] 11] l 2 ll 200 6 2 2 555 5 [i [ll torque counter to the torque normally present. This carriage and track system has a particular advanta UNITED STATES PATENTS 227/152 in that because of the vertical track construction workers are able to get closer to the working surface m n .m t n e V n O c a m m w .m m F c m I i e W m m ms m m ham .1 flaw h mem 5 mm t m .mn f :10 Oh I I I PATENTEBJUNZBIHH sum 1 or 2 HUI .machines are still beyond the costs and skill APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING A STRUCTURAL FRAME IN HORIZONTAL POSITION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improved carriage and track system for use with framing tables. More particu' larly, this invention relates to a nailer carriage and ver- 2. The Prior Art Because the expense of conventional home building has dramatically increased in recent years, the building industry of today is undergoing many significant changes and developments in housing construction. Much of the increased expenses of housing construction is due directly to labor cost. To overcome this problem builders have placed increased emphasis on ,multi-family dwellings with their many duplicate and easily reproducable sections, such as walls, ceilings and floors. Next to develope was the prefabrication of roof trusses and wall sections. Prefabrication of roof trusses and wall frames despite costly and cumbersome equipment, have increased with the associated labor savings, despite continued increases in those labor costs, as well as, more sophisticated improvements in assembling processes and apparatus. However,most of the framing of many general contractors and fabricators.

An example of a frame fabricating apparatus for the small, as well as, large contractor is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,629,931 to James M. Stanley. The Stanley patent shows a portable framing table having horizontally mounted tracks on either side of the framing table positioned adjacent to the frame members to be assembled. This apparatus has the advantages of in-plant or, bcause of its portable nature, on-site use, simplicity and efficiency. The subject of this invention is an improvement in the carriage and track system described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,629,931. It, of course, has applicability to numerous types and sizes of framing table.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide an improved carriage and track system for use with framing tables to prefabricate building sections.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carriage and track system that operates on a track in vertical relationship to the framing table surface.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a carriage for supporting a nailing gun that is of light weight and easily removable from the track.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved wheeled carriage that supports a nailing gun and is guided on a track which permits the operator to work close to the framing members and to accurately drive nails into the joints of frame members assembled on the adjacent framing table without overfiring.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the objects of this invention and other related objects are accomplished by providing a carriage comprising, a carriage base, usually forming a tray, means for supporting and altering the vertical position of a nailing gun pivotably positioned on a nailing support plate and in position for firing nails to secure the joints of the frame members by movement of the carriage along the running length of the track secured to the framing table supported by a plurality of rollers. The carriage is in cantilevered relationship with the track and further includes stabilizing means. e.g., rollers positioned on opposite sides of the track to effect a torque counter to the torque normally present. The nailing device is arranged to be actuated by an operator to nail the frame members together.

Also included is a vertical track means in working arrangement with a substantially rectangular framing table having a pair of side edges and having a work surface on which means are provided for positioning the structural elements of a frame, such as a wall section of conventional 2 X 4 inch members, in an assembled condition with joints for nailing. The: vertical track means are attached to the framing table adjacent to the side edges in parallel working relationship thereto, each of the tracks being arranged to glideably support the carriage for movement adjacent to the length of the associated edge portion of the assembled element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features which are believed to be charac-v teristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the carriage and vertical track system of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top'view of the carriage and vertical track system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the carriage and track system shown in FIG. 1 taken substantially along 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the relationship of the carriage and vertical track system constructed in accordance with this invention with a framing table; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4.

ADVANTAGES OF THEv INVENTION This invention has many advantages over structural frame fabricating apparatus which are significant. Some are listed below.

a. The nailer carriage of this invention is easily adjustable to assemble frames of varying thicknesses, e.g., 2 to 8 inches or more.

b. The carriage directs the head of the nailer to prevent over-firing the frame members.

c. The carriage eliminates fatigue and hand held operation of the nailers, while preventing abuse of the nailers.

d. The carriage tray under the nailer may be used for storage of extra nails and equipment to prevent wasted time when these are needed.

e. The nailer pivots backwards to allow for assemblying double framing members to eliminate the necessity of completing a component section at another stage.

f. The nailer, because it may be attached to the carriage with only two screws, is easily removed should a malfunction occur.

g. The entire carriage may be simply removed from the vertical track by lifting upward and may be used with most existing framing tables.

h. The roller bearings are adjustable to obtain maximum ease of movement of the carriage along the track.

i. A major advantage is that the track only projects a couple of inches, normally about 4 inches, from the side of the framing table, thereby allowing operators to perform with ease subsequent operations to the assembled frame from each side, such as stapling sheeting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the improved carriage and vertical track system of this invention which includes a carriage designated generally by the letter C. The carriage C includes a carriage base which is preferably of substantially rectangular shape and preferably having sides 11,11 forming a tray. The carriage C also includes an upstanding support screw 12 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is adjustably mounted through the carriage base 10 by nut 13 welded to the carriage base. The carriage C further comprises nailer support plate 20 for supporting a nailing device, such as nailing gun 23 of conventional construction having a nail ejecting portion 24, shown more clearly in FIGS. 2-3. The nailer support plate 20 is connected to support screw 12 by knuckle joint 15. Knuckle joint 15 provides nailer support plate with pivotable movement both vertically and horizontally. Support plate 20 is limited in its uppermost position by rear limit screw 16. Limit screw 16 is vertically adjustable for correctly positioning the nailer support plate for firing the upper nail into frame members of differing thicknesses. On the other hand, when nailer support plate 20 is depressed, for instance, while nailing the bottom nail into the frame member, downward movement is restricted in the lowermost position by adjustable front limit screw 14. Spring 21 urges the support plate 20 upward into the uppermost nailing position where it is stopped by rear limit post, screw 16.

As stated support screw 12 is vertically adjustable, thereby providing means for raising and lowering the arcing position of the nailer 23, which, of course, means that this carriage system easily provides nailing of walls, ceilings or floors of varying heights from the framing table. In other words, the are which the ailer makes when nailing a framing member 4 inches high from the framing table top, such as a 2 X 4 inch member standing on edge, is designed so that the two nails which are normally inserted approximately /2 inch from the top and bottom edges of the 2 X 4 inch member will remain in almost a vertical alignment to each other. By adjusting the screw mechanism and changing the wall thickness to a 2 X 6 inch member standing on edge, then remembering that two or more nails are to remain as vertically aligned as possible, the height of the nailer support plate 20 is adjusted in order to change the are that the nailer is making to accomplish this objective. I

Nailing gun 23 is of the fluid, generally compressed air-type, pressure-operated type or may be electrically operated, if desired, and is arranged to be connected to an associated source of fluid pressure by flexible conduit means or a hose, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The nailer 23 is positioned on support plate 20 by proper alignment of the nailing gun in positioning brackets 22 for firing nails into frame members 31,33. Although it is not essential, the nail gun is preferably secured by screws (not shown) to the support plate 20.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is provided vertical track means designated by the letter T, attached to framing table F adjacent each of the side edges 30,30 in substantial parallel relationship therewith and running along the length thereof with some extension where needed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the track T is basically a piece of flat iron running horizontally along the edge of the framing table F, and vertical with respect to the floor or ground and, in the embodiment shown, held outward from the framing table with a plurality of spacers 32. The size of the track can vary in thickness and in height with corresponding adjustments, and as will be explained hereinafter, to the rotatable rollers 17, 18, 19. In other embodiments the track itself may be mounted beside the table vertically from the floor, projecting from underneath the table attached to legs or other framing pieces, or some other combination of attachments, as long as the top edge of the track remains in the same relative position to the top edge of the table. The track is usually mounted so that the top inside edge closest to the table is about 1% inches down and 3 /2 inches out from the top inside edge of the table. Although it has been found this is the most desirable position for mounting the track in the majority of cases, when necessary this position of the track may be changed, for example to level with the table top and 3 inches out from the edge or other similar positions. This can be accomplished by making minor adjustments with the carriage parts. The reason this is important is that this carriage can be mounted to almost any fabrication table in existance.

To carriage base 10 are attached a pair of rollers 18 rotatably mounted to back side member 11, preferably these rollers are grooved. Back side member 11 is of sufficient height for the proper positioning of the rollers to rest on the top edge of the track T in cantilevered relationship with the track. Further, stabilizing means are included, shown as detachably mounted rollers 19 on each end of carriage base 10 at support brackets 25, and roller 17 located on the opposite side of the track, to effect a balancing torque counter to the torque normally present. Such relationship enables the carriage C to smoothly roll the length of the track. As is evident, the carriage C may simply be lifted from the track T. Rollers 19 and 17 may be adjusted to tilt the nailer heads to a variety of desirable angles. Therefore, the nails do not have to be inserted parallel to the frame. The angle of insertion can vary approximately 30 either way off of direct parallel and still operate satisfactorily.

The improved cantilevered carriage and track system of this invention is used in connection with a framing table of either the stationary or portable type. There is shown such an arrangement in FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein the letter F designates in general a framing table or framing jig. Framing table F, stationary as shown in this embodiment, is substantially rectangular and positioned at a convenient work height by vertical supports 36 and the width is adjusted through cross-supports 35. Frame plate members 31 are positioned on the table surface of frame F above side members 30,30, and the stud frame members 33 are placed in preselected locations. The skeletonal frame members are held in place by a series of compression stops37.

Carriages C with nailing guns 23 are mounted on the tracks T located on either side of the framing table F. The assembled frame is easily removed from the table by skate roller conveyors 34 when the conveyors are moved into their up position (not shown).

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION With the nailing guns 23 supported on the carriage C and connected to an associated pressure source, each carriage C is moved along the tracks by an operator or by a pair of operators moving both of the carriage C simultaneously to move the nailing guns 23 successively into a nailing position adjacent each ,of the joints. The

nailing gun is then actuated by the operator urges the nailing gun 23 into contacting relationship with the plate to be nailed by pivoting the nailing gun and its underlying support plate 20 inwardly. The operator at each nailing position to drive nails into the joints. At each nailing position adjacent the joints the operator may also move the nailing gun 23 from the elevated position, in which a nail is driven into the joint, downwardly in the direction of the arrow 1 against the urging action of the spring 21 to a lower position as shown in F IG. 3, thereby driving a plurality of nails in vertically spaced relationship in each of the joints. When the nailing of the frame is completed, skate roll conveyors 34 are raised upward to lift the frame above compression stops 37 to facilitate and permit the thus assembled frame to be conveniently rolled off the table. The skate roll conveyors are retracted and the next frame skeleton array is placed on the table surface. The operation is repeated to form similar frames or adjustments may be made for nailing frames of a different size and/or type. Prior to removing the assembled frame, additional building steps may be made, such as sheeting, etc. The tray formed by the carriage base and sides may be used for spare nails and needed equipment.

sizes. The carriage and track system of the invention is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction so as to be of low cost. Furthermore, the apparatus of the invention requires the use of only relatively unskilled labor both in the assembly of the elements into a structural frame for nailing as well as in the manipulation of a nailing gun of the conventional fluid-pressure operated type. Also, the nailing of the frame joints is accomplished in a highly accurate manner and the carriages incorporated in the apparatus of the invention for supporting the nailing gun may be easily manipulated to drive nails in a plurality of vertically spaced nailing position in each of the joints.

While the term frame has been used herein, it is intended to include vertical wall sections, ceiling sections, floor sections and any other desired frame section. While there has been described what at presentis considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. An independent nailing machinecarriage assembly guidably supported by aframing table having vertically oriented'track means attached adjacent thereto comprising, 1 i

a support base having means for altering the vertical said base, a plurality of rollers rotatably attached to said support base and contacting the top edge of said track, said carriage assembly being in cantilevered relationship with the track, and stabilizaing means contacting the side of said track attached to said support base for effecting a counter-torque.

2. The carriage assembly of claim 1 wherein said stabilizing means are adjustable rollers.

3. The carriage assembly of claim 1 further comprising means to limit the vertical movement of said nailing 4. The carriage assembly of claim 2 wherein said track means includes an elongated planar member, each of said stabilizing rollers having an axis of rotation in a substantilly vertical orientation.

5. The carriage assembly of claim 4 wherein said plurality of rollers which support said carriage on said track are grooved to permit the top edge of said track to enter therein, said stabilizing rollers including at least one roller contacting one major surface of said planar track, and atleast one roller contacting the opposite major surface of said planar track.

orientation of a nailing gun pivotably positioned on 

1. An independent nailing machine carriage assembly guidably supported by a framing table having vertically oriented track means attached adjacent thereto comprising, a support base having means for altering the vertical orientation of a nailing gun pivotably positioned on said base, a plurality of rollers rotatably attached to said support base and contacting the top edge of said track, said carriage assembly being in cantilevered relationship with the track, and stabilizaing means contacting the side of said track attached to said support base for effecting a counter-torque.
 2. The carriage assembly of claim 1 wherein said stabilizing means are adjustable rollers.
 3. The carriage assembly of claim 1 further comprising means to limit the vertical movement of said nailing gun.
 4. The carriage assembly of claim 2 wherein said track means includes an elongated planar member, each of said stabilizing rollers having an axis of rotation in a substantilly vertical orientation.
 5. The carriage assembly of claim 4 wherein said plurality of rollers which support said carriage on said track are grooved to permit the top edge of said track to enter therein, said stabilizing rollers including at least one roller contacting one major surface of said planar track, and at least one roller contacting the opposite major surface of said planar track. 